No Return

61

Wes drove across town, working his way through neighborhoods he hadn’t visited since he was a teenager, avoiding the main drags completely. Twice he turned down side streets when sedans pulled onto the road behind him. And twice he watched the sedans drive by without a glance in his direction.

Nerves on edge, he continued toward Downs Avenue. As he got closer his thoughts turned from worrying about being followed to worrying that the pay phone he was heading toward might not be there any longer. They were a dying breed, after all.

As he turned into the 7-Eleven at the corner of Downs and Inyokern Road, he allowed himself a small grin in relief. It was still there, right where he remembered it, next to a waist-high concrete wall that lined the edge of the parking lot.

He parked the bike so that it was facing outward, ready to move, then picked up the phone, deposited some change, and dialed his friend’s number.

“Hello?” Casey said.

“It’s Wes.”

“If you’re calling about that picture, I haven’t been able to find any information yet.”

Wes had forgotten he’d sent his friend the picture he’d found on the Web.

“Not the picture. Something else I need you to check on.”

“I’m just about to head out to lunch. Whatever it is, I’ll help you when I-”

“I’m in trouble,” Wes said quickly.

There was dead air for a moment. “What kind of trouble?”

“Bad trouble.”

“Hold on.”

There was a click, and a prerecorded promo for the Quest Network’s “Strange History Week” let Wes know he was on hold. Thirty seconds later, another click and Casey was back.

“Judy just went to lunch,” he said. “More privacy in her office. Now, what do you mean you’re in trouble?”

Wes quickly told his friend what had been going on.

“A cover-up?” Casey said.

“That’s what I think.”

“And they’ve taken Anna and this Tony guy?” His tone bespoke his disbelief.

“I know, it sounds nuts. But I don’t see any other explanation. The police are investigating, but I highly doubt they’re going to find them. And even if I tell them all this, they won’t listen to me. I need more proof. Something that will force them to believe me.”

“What can I do to help?”

“You ready to take some notes?” Wes asked.

“Absolutely.”